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LESSOS
Jiy REV. r. B FITZ WATER. D. D.,
Teacher ot English Bible in the Moody
Bible institute ot Chicago.)
(Copyright, 191S. Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 13
By ARTHUR N. DAVIS, D. D. S .-American Dentist to the Kaiser from 1904 to 1918
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PREFACE
For 14 years the kaiser was
my patient. All I know of him
and all that he told me came to
me while the relation of patient
and dentist existed between us.
For that reason I felt at 'first
that, no matter how vital to the
allied cause might be the Infor
mation I could give as to the kai
ser's viewpoint, ambitions and
plans, the requirements of pro
fessional ethics must seal my
lips and compel me to withhold
it from the world at large.
When, however, I considered
the grave crisis that confronts
the world and in which my own
country Is playing so important
a iart, and realized that what I
knew of the kaiser might prove
of some value to civilization, I
concluded that my patriotic duty
was paramount and rose su
perior to any of the ordinary de
mands of professional ethics.
In this conclusion I was
strengthened by the urgent solici
tation of the leaders of my pro
fession who were most emphatic
in their contention that my
ethical qualms were entirely un
warranted in view of all the cir
cumstances. ARTHUR N. DAVIS, D. D. S.
CHAPTER I.
"America Must Be Punished!"
When war broke out between the
United States and Germany, on April
6, 1917, I was in Berlin. I had lived
and practiced my profession as a dent
ist there for 14 years, and the kaiser
had been one of my patients during
all that time.
I don't know exactly how many
visits the kaiser paid me profession
ally, but I know I am safe in saying
they were not less than 100, and the
probabilities are they were closer to
150. Almost invariably, after my work
was done, the kaiser remained any
where from ten minutes to an hour
end a half to discuss the topics of the
hour with me.
When we declared war against Ger
many, therefore, while I was still an
American citizen as patriotic an
American, I believe, as might be found
anywhere I had lived in Germany so
long, had developed so many profes
sional friendships in Germany's most
favored circles and was so generally
regarded as a particular favorite of
the kaiser himself, that I found It hard
to realize that nevertheless I had be
come an alien enemy.
The same day the breaking off of
diplomatic relations was announced,
the German newspapers had published
the provisions of an old treaty be
tween Germany and the United States
which gave Americans in Germany
and Germans in America nine months
after a declaration of war between the
two nations within which to settle
their affairs and leave the country.
"Tills treaty," the newspapers point
ed out. "was made in the time of Fred
erick the Great. It has never been
repealed. Germany will respect it."
As there were so many more Germans
In America than there were Americans
in Germany, this prompt announce
ment of Germany's Intentions regard
lay this treaty was quite understand
able and it seemed most improbable
that Germany would adopt any harsh
tnfc&r.ures toward Americans and
thereby Invite reprisals.
Had the situation been reversed, of
course, the Germans would undoubt-
edly have thoueht it exDedient to In-
tern Americans no matter what hap-
pened to their own countrymen in
America, and, in that event, this an
cient treaty would have shared the
fate of that which guaranteed Bel
gium's neutrality. One "scrap of pa
per" more or less would never have
been allowed to Interfere with Ger
many's "destiny."
Influential Germans who called to
see me professionally during that pe
riod almost invariably expressed the
hope that I was not planning to leave
Berlin. .
No matter what happens, doctor,"
declared "even if the worst
to the worst and war is de
between America and Germany
te"y feel quite sure the kaiser
C let
let anvone harm vou."
let the matter rest there,
had called at the Arueri-
wh
where it was pointed
while diplomatic re-
severed, it was not
tz- war would result
Wore, no reason
precipitately.
in Berlin a
irse, have ha
precipitately,
t
ad
question to
fate might
t he was
Sin had
Vfore
H'i!ly.
of my oldest patients and I decided to
discuss the situation with him. Un
fortunately, however, I found him too
ill to receive me. He was eighty years
old and, although unusually well pre
served, was in no condition on this
occasion to receive visitors.
Another influential patient of mine
whom I sought out at this time was
ex-Ambassador von Sturm. Although
he was now retired from official life,
he had formerly been a powerful fig
ure in German &tate circles and still
kept more or less In touch with the
new court chamberlain and others in
high office. His nephew was under
secretary of foreign affairs.
I found the ex-ambassador at his
private apartment In the Adlon hotel.
"What will harpen to Americans,"
I asked, "if my country declares war
against Germany?"
"That, doctor, will depend entirely
upon how America treats our sub
jects," he ' replied, somewhat more
coldly than I had expected of him. "If
America interns Germans, of course,
we Khali undoubtedly treat Americans
the same way, and you could hardly
expect any special consideration, al
though, if you will write a letter to the
court chamberlain, who Is a personal
friend of mine, I shall see that he gets
it"
"But, excellency," I replied, "there is
a treaty between Germany and Amer
ica, I understand, which gives the sub
jects or citizens of one country who
happen to be sojourning In the other
when war is . declared nine months
within which to close up their affairs
and leave. Would not that protect
me?"
"Of course, doctor," he answered,
"Germany will respect the treaty if
America does, and then there will be
no trouble. It seems to me you must
await developments and, in the mean
time you have no cause for worry."
"Suppose some of your subjects in
America' should act up and start
blowing up bridges or munition fac
tories and should be lynched, which
they probably would be," I suggested,
"what would Germany's course be?"
"What Germany would do then,
doctor," he replied, slowly and
thoughtfully, as though such a contin
gency had never occurred to him be
fore "really, doctor, I don't know
what we would do !"
This somewhat unsatisfactory inter
view with Von Sturm might have wor
ried me more, perhaps, had it not been
for a visit I received only a day or
two later from Prince von Pless. one
of the kaiser's closest friends and ad
visors, who called on me profession
ally. For a year and a half the kaiser
had had his great army headquarters
at the prince's palace at Pless, in
southeastern Germany, and I knew
that he enjoyed his monarch's confi
dence. When I asked him regarding the
possible internment of Americans, he
assured me that, come what might, I
and my family had not the slightest
reason for alarm.
"No matter what may befall other
Americans, doctor," he asserted, in
a confidential manner, "the kaiser has
gone on record to the effect that you
and your family are not to be mo
lested." Another incident which made me
feel that I could proceed with my prep
arations for leaving Berlin without un
due haste was the receipt early in the
year of a most extraordinary post card
from the kaiser which, it occurred to
me, was quite significant as to his in
tentions regarding my welfare. On one
side was his picture and on the other,
written and signed in English In his
own handwriting, was the message:
1 "Dear Doctor Davis :
! "Wishing you a very good year for
11)17. WILLIAM I. R."
This was the first message of its
kind that I had ever received from the
kaiser. Even in peace times, the pic
ture postals which he had sent to me
from time to time and which were
autographed by him, were always
signed in German. When, on February
1, the Germans resumed their ruth
less submarine warfare a move which
was immediately followed by the
breaking off of diplomatic, relations I
felt that the kaiser must have fore
seen this consequence and had sent,
me the postal as an intimation that
he wanted me to remain in Berlin
nevertheless.
When the Germans sank the Lusi
tania, living and practicing in Ger-
many lost many of their attractions
for me. I made up my mind then that
I would rather return home and om-
j mence my professional career all over
agaiu, if necessary, than remain in a
country which could sanction such a
hideous form of warfare the wanton
destruction of women and children. To
that end, I went to New York in the
summer of 3915 to investigate the re
quirements for the practice of my pro
fession in that state. I had an Illinois
license, but I wanted to be in a posi
tion to practice in New York, and the
following year I went to New York
again and took the state dental exam
ination. I returned to Germany late In
the autumn of 101G and later I learned
;that my certificate had been granted.
T0" T rpn-inpnred active preparations
(Copyright, 1918, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)
to dispose of my German practice and
return home.
My second reason for wanting to get
out of Germany as soon as possible
was the fact that food conditions in
Germany were becoming more pre
carious every day. My wife and I
feared that our child, who was two
yenrs old, might suffer from lack of
proper nourishment If we remained
and I determined that no matter how
long It might be necessary for me to
remain in Berlin, my wife and child
at nny rate should leave at the earliest
possible moment.
My third reason, however, was by
far the most Insistent of all.
I had become convinced that what I
knew of the kaiser and his plans, now
that we were at war, ought to be com
municated to America without delay
and that the only way to do that ade
quately would be to get home as soon
as I possibly could, no matter what
personal sacrifice might be involved in
abandoning my European practice and
interests.
It is true that in the early years of
my relationship with the kaiser our
conversations naturally embraced only
the most general of subjects, but in
later years, when he came to know me
better, he cast aside all reserve and
talked to me on whatever was upper
most in his mind at the time. After
the wat started that, of course, formed
the principal subject of our discus
sions and the part that America was
playing in the conflict was frequently
brought up because of the fact that I
was an American.
One memorable interview I had had
with him influenced me perhaps more
than any other single factor to hasten
the settlement of my European affairs
and return home.
It was in the fall of 1916. The kai
ser had come to me for professional
attention, and after my work was com
pleted he remained to discuss some
of the aspects of the war. Perhaps the
fact that I had just returned from a
visit to America made him more than
usuilly eager for a chat with me.
We had discussed various phases of
the war, when the kaiser changed the
subject abruptly with the question :
"Davis, what's the matter with your
country?"
"In what respect, your majesty?" I
asked.
"Why is it that your country is so
unfair to Germany? Why do you per
sist in supplying munitions and money
to the allies? Why doesn't your pres
ident treat the European warring na
tions the same as he treated Mexico
by putting an embargo on munitions
and letting us fight this thing out our
selves? You do not ship munitions to
us, why do you ship them to the other
side?"
I was on such terms with the kaiser
that I did not hesitate to answer his
question with another.
"I have always understood, your
majesty, that during the Russian-Japanese
war, Germany continually sup
plied munitions to Russia. Why was
that any more justifiable than America
supplying munitions to the allies?
Then again, in the Spanish-American
"Davis, you surprise me!" the kai
ser interrupted, rising from the oper
ating chair, in which he had remained,
walking towards me, throwing back
his shoulders and rising to his full
height. "The cases are entirely differ
ent. When we helped Russia against
Japan we were helping a white race
against a yellow race, don't ever for
get that don't ever forget that. But
with America, that Is certainly not the
case. Your country is acting from
purely mercenary motives. It is a
case of dollars, dollars, dollars I" and
each time he repeated the word he
struck his partially helpless left hand
violently with his powerful right.
"America values dollars more than she
values German lives! She thinks it
right to shoot down my people."
He had worked himself up to a de
gree of indignation which I had seen
him display only on two or three pre
vious occasions, and I must confess I
was reluctant to start a fresh outburst
bj answering his arguments. His
eyes, usually soft and kindly, flashed
fins as he advanced towards me and
slowly and Incisively declared : "Davis,
America must be punished
for her actions !"
Ii that expression, which he repeat
ed on subsequent occasions in pre
cisely the same words and with the
same measured emphasis, I knew that
he revealed mostly clearly what his at
titude was and will ever be toward
this country.
CHAPTER II.
The Kaiser at Potsdam.
Getting out of Germany proved to be
a far more difficult proposition than I
had imagined.
Realizing that it would probably be
several months before I could finally
settle up my affairs, and that my child,
who was anemic, ought to be taken
out of Germany with as little delay as
possible because food conditions were
fast going from bad to worse, I ap
plied to the kommandantur for leave to
have my wife and child go to Mon-
I treux, on Lake Geneva, Switzerland,
where I hoped to join them at the
earliest possible moment and accom
pany them home. I did not relish the
Idea of their going across the ocean
without me.
That was in May, 1917. Weeks
passed while our application was going
from one official to another, lying, per
haps for days at a time under a pile of
other applications of a slmlliar char
acter or awaiting the investigation of
our personal histories, and It was not
until the end of June that we received
nny word regarding it. Then we
learned that it had been denied.
This was my first intimation that we
might have difficulty in getting out of
Germany.
A day or two later the kaiser called
on me professionally and I told him of
our plight, hoping that he would inter
cede for us. It was the only favor of a
personal character I had ever asked of
him.
"My child is ailing, your majesty," I
said, "and I feel that she needs a
change of climate. I applied to the
kommandantur for leave for my wife
and child to go to Montreux, but I have
just heard that it has been refused !"
"Davis, I willsee what I can do in
the matter," he replied reassuringly,
and as he was leaving my office he
turned to me and said in the presence
of his two adjutants: "Regarding that
matter you spoke of, leave it to me
and I will see what I can do !"
The kaiser's influence would readily
solve our problem, I thought, and I
was very much relieved. Two days
later, however, I received a letter
from Count von Moltke, one of the kai
ser's adjutants, stating that the kai
ser had spoken to him regarding the
Switzerland project, but, under the
circumstances, it was out of the ques
tion. If, however, my child's condition
were such as to make a change of cli
mate really necessary, he added, the
kaiser suggested that a trip to the
Austrian Tyrol might perhaps be ar
ranged, as the climate there was Just
as good as that of Switzerland, but be
fore permission would be granted for
that trip it would be necessary to ob
tain a certificate from the district doc
tor stating that it was necessary.
As the food situation in Austria was
just as bad as it was in Germany, if
not worse, that idea didn't appeal to
me at all, and I went Immediately to
the kommandantur and explained the
situation to them.
When they saw Count von Moltke's
letter the officer In charge threw up
his hands.
"That's final," he declared. "That
comes from a higher authority than
ours. It is useless to pursue the mat
ter any further. We received a com
munication from . his majesty regard
ing your case, but the matter was left
entirely to our discretion. It was not
a command, only a request from his
majesty. A command, of course, would
have been different."
Then I applied for a pass for my
wife, child and myself to go to Amer
ica. They pointed out at the komman
dantur that as my wife's application
to leave Berlin preceded mine, it was
possible she would be allowed to leave
before me. I told the officer that that
would suit me admirably, as I wanted
the pass for Mrs. Davis and the child
granted at the earliest possible mo
ment regardless of what action might
be taken on my own application.
Again there followed a long period
of anxious waiting while the German
red tape slowly unwound, but eventu
ally, in September, we received word
that Mrs. Davis and the child might
leave Berlin for Copenhagen between
October 10 and 12. They left on the
tenth.
A day or two later commenced the
German offensive against Riga, on the
Baltic. Within three or four days the
Germans captured successively the
Oesel, Runo, Obro and Moon Islands
in the Gulf of Riga and then carried
their invasion to the mainland. Their
apparent objective was Petrograd and
on October 19 the Russians announced
that the seat of the government would
be removed from Petrograd to Mos
cow. These successes on the Baltic failed
to overcome the depression in Germany
caused by the serious internal situa
tion In Austria at this period. Muni
tion factories were being wrecked by
hunger-crazed and war-weary strikers
and the populace was being shot down
in great numbers in the food riots
which developed in various parts of
Austria. Not since the war began had
the outlook been so discouraging for
the Germans.
Then, on October 24, just as things
were looking their blackest, the great
German-Austro offensive against the
Italians was started. In three days the
Italians were swept out of Austria and
the Teutons pressed forward to the
passes west of the Isonzo river leading
to the Venetian plains. By the end of
October the Italian armies were in full
retreat. Before this offensive was over
the Germans captured, they claimed,
no less than 300,000 prisoners and sev
eral thousand big guns, besides vast
stores of munitions and supplies.
The exultation of the Germans over
the triumph of their armies- In Italy
knew no bounds. While It was at Its
height I had an interview with the kai
ser which will ever remain one of the
most vivid in my memory.
It was about three-thirty one Sunday
morning when I was aroused by a maid
who, in an awe-stricken tone of voice;
announced that the Neue Palais, the
kaiser's palace at Potsdam, was on the
phone. I went to the telephone and
was Informed that the kaiser was suf
fering from a bad toothache and would
send his auto for me within an hour or
so.
I got up at once and packed my In
struments, and at six-thirty the car, a
big gray Mercedes limousine, arrived.
Besides the chauffeur there was an
outrider carrying the bugle whose dls-'
tinctive notes only the kaiser may use.
While the Shell room and other state
rooms were accessible to visitors be
fore the war, no one was ever permit
ted to visit the private apartments of
the kaiser upstairs.
' On this occasion, however, I was
guided right through the Shell room,
through a door opening on the left and
up a wide staircase to the kaiser's
garderobe, or dressing room.
There I found breakfast ready for
me. It consisted of real coffee, real
white bread, butter, marmalade, sugar,
cream and cold meats. It was the first
food of the kind I had eaten in some
time and practically no one in Ger
many outside the royal family and the
junkers was any better off than I in
that respect.
While I was breakfasting, the kaiser
was dressing. His valet entered sev
eral times, I noticed, to take out arti
cles of clothing , from the massive
wardrobes which lined the room. I had
just completed my meal when I re
ceived word that my patient was ready
to receive me.
As I entered the kaiser's bedroom
he was standing in the center of tho
room, fully attired in an army gray
uniform, but without his sword. He
looked more haggard than I had ever
seen him, except once in 1915. Lack
of sleep and physical pain were two
things with which he had had very
little experience, and they certainly
showed their effects very plainly.
He didn't seem to be in the best of
humor but greeted me cordially enough
and shook hands.
"In all my life, Davis," he said, "I
have never suffered so much pain."
I expressed my sorrow and started
to improvise a dental chair out of an
upholstered armchair on which I
placed some pillows and, as the kaiser
sat down, he laughingly remarked:
"Look here, Davis, you've got to do
something for me. I can't fight the
whole world, you know, and have a
toothache !"
When I was through and his pain
was relieved, his spirits seemed to re
vive appreciably, and he explained, why
it was he was so anxious to have his
tooth trouble removed as quickly as
possible.
"I must go down to Italy, Davis,"
he said, "to see what my noble troops
have accomplished. My gracious,
what we have done to them down
there ! Our offensive at Riga was just
a feint. We had advertised our in
tended offensive in Italy so thoroughly
that the Italians thought we couldn't
possibly intend to carry it through.
For three months it was common talk
in Germany, you remember, that the
great offensive would start in October,
and so the Italians believed it was all
a bluff and when we advanced on Riga
they were sure of it. They thought we
were so occupied there that we could
pay no attention to them, and so we
caught them napping!"
The kaiser's face fairly, beamed as
he dwelt on the strategy of his gen
erals and the successful outcome of
their Italian campaign.
"For months Italy had been engaged
in planting her big guns on the mountain-tops
and gathering mountains of
ammunition and supplies and food and
hospital supplies in the valleys below,
In preparation for their twelfth Isonzo
offensive.
"We let them go ahead and waited
patiently for the right moment. They
thought that their contemplated offen
sive must Inevitably bring our weaker
neighbor to her knees and force her to
make a separate peace!" By "our
weaker neighbor" the kaiser, of course,
referred to Austria, and how accurate
was his information regarding Italy's
expectations and how easily they
might have been realized were subse
quently revealed by the publication of
that famous letter from Kaiser Karl
to Frlnce Sextus.
In the next installment, Doctor
Davis tells of the kaiser's dual
personality, showing how the
war, while not changing, uncov
ered the emperor's true charac
ter. Don't mies this Interesting
6tudy of the German "war lord."
(TO BE COIsi'Sr
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ABRAM'S GENEROUS TREATMENT f 7
LESSON TEXT Genesis 13:1-11; 14:14-1.
GOLDEN TEXT A friend loveth at all
tirrfes, and a brother is born for adver
sity. Proverbs 17:17. .'
DEVOTIONAL READING Romans 9;
12-21.
ADDITIONAL ' MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Genesis 12:10-14; 24; 18:16-33;
:29.
I. Abram and Lot Return From
Egypt (v v. 1-4).
Abrara went into Egypt because of a
famine. No doubt the famine was sent
in judgment for the sins of the people,
but also for Abrani's sake. He needed
the graces of his heart developed. He
needed to be taught the weakness of
his own heart, and the faithfulness ot
God. The child of God is not prom
ised exemption from nrials, but grace
sufficient to endure them. Abram
failed. In the midst of his trials he
went off to Egypt without God's direc
tion, where he got into trouble. To
take one's own way always brings him
into trouble. His expedient to save
his life was unworthy ot Abram. He
lied, and a lie is never justifiable. It
Is much better to die than to lie.
Abram by prevarication deceived the
king, but as soon as the truth was
known he was thrust out. Though
Abram had strayed from the path
way j of faith, he had the good sense
to go "unto the place where his tent
had been in the beginning, where the
altar was." This showed that he was
willing to confess his mistake, and be
gin life over again. This Egypt expe
rience was a loss spiritually to Abram,
thcruh he became rich there. Increase
of riches is no sign that a man Is in
fellowship with God.
II. Abram and Lot Separate (vv. 5
11). The goods of both Abram and Lot
greatly increased. When they attempt
ed to settle down, trouble arose be
tween theirherdsmen. This is the first
record of trouble between relatives
over financial matters. Riches often
Interfere with friendship. They kindle
jealousy and strife between men. They
engender greed and selfishness in men.
Many times members of the same fam
ily are estranged from each other
through strife for wealth. For the
chosen of God thus to quarrel is utter
folly and criminal, especially when the
enemy of the Lord's people looks on.
"The Canaanite and the Perlzzlte
dwelt then in the land" (v. 7). It is
bad enough for God's children to quar
rel, but to do so in tho presence of the
world which delights therein is greatly
to sin. Abram's behavior Is a fine ex
ample of the art of living together
peaceably. The disgraceful situation
was relieved by a generous proposition
from Abram. Lot was allowed his
choice. Separation is sometimes nec
essary. Though he owed all to Abram,
his selfish heart caused him to grasp
for the best. Lot's action shows that
his stay in Egypt was ruinous to him.
Perhaps he chose the plains of thlf
Jordan because of their resemblance
to Egypt. One cannot go into Egypt
without being affected by it. This was
a fatal choice for Lot. The motive
actuating him was worldly advantage.
Though he for awhile prospered, it
was an expensive undertaking for him.
Lot with all his goods was taken away
when the confederate kings came
against Sodom. He is an example of
one saved so as by fire (I Cor. 3 :11-15).
He set his affections upon earthly
things, and the time came when he
had to separate from them. The world
and its lusts pass away, but he that
doeth the will of God abldeth forever
(I John 2:15-17). Lot was not wholly
corrupt; he was a man who allowed
tw world to get the better of him.
Once his money and his family were
in Sodom he simply endured the wick
edness, longing to escape from it (II
Peter 2:6-8).
Ml. Abram Delivers Lot (Genesis
14:14-16).
Though Lot's trouble was the result
of his selfish -choice, Abram's magnanim
ity of soul expressed itself, taking up
arms to deliver him from the oppres
sor. This was because Abram was
man of faith. Faith trusts God end
fights for the right.
While Lot suffered from his kll -
choice, Abram was greatly prospereWi
He grew rich in temporal things, wb4le
at the same time he was rich toward
God. It were much better to have God yt
and a poor piece of land, than a rich
piece of land without God. When Lot
was involved In the ruin of his sad
choice Abram had the power to deliver
him. Abram's whole life shows that
those who make obedience to God first
get the needed worldly gain (I Kings
8:5-13; Matthew 6:33).
Scripture Penetrates.
So far as I have observed God's
dealings with my soul, the flight of
ireachers sometimes entertained me,
ut it was Scripture expressions that
did penetrate my heart, and in a way
peculiar to themselves. John JBrcTTO
Haddington..
Blest Are They.
Blest are they who, lost, undone.
Rest by faitn m God's own Son;
Blest who take by precious blood
Refuge Jn the eternal God. is
They by truth ar thus set fres.1
Rock of Ages, hid In Thee.